Review of Sony DSC-RX100 IV :: The Perfect Compact Landscape Camera?

Sunrise light on flowering rabbit brush near Mono Lake, Eastern Sierra, California, USA.

Sunrise light on flowering rabbit brush near Mono Lake, Eastern Sierra, California
Sony DSC-RX-100 IV, f/10, 1/125, ISO 200

This past week I have been co-teaching Gary Hart’s workshop in the eastern Sierra. We’ve had a wide-range of subject matter and light – a perfect opportunity to put my new Sony RX100 IV compact camera through its paces.

After photographing much of my vacation in Europe this summer with just my iPhone, I was dismayed by the fact that I really happened upon some nice moments but my image files prevented me from sending the keepers to Getty Images. Just about that time, Sony was gearing up to release version IV of their popular RX 100 compact camera.

My last compact camera was a Canon Power Shot G2 – well over 15 years ago! Fast forward to this past week and I now own the latest Sony compact. Here are its key features:

Screen Shot 2015-10-08 at 11.45.58 AM

The camera sets up fairly easily, especially if you are familiar with the Sony mirrorless interface. I like shooting primarily in Manual Mode with RAW files.

I really like the Auto ISO feature, where I set the shutter and aperture, then let the camera pick the ISO. Speeds up to ISO 1600 is good, but some noise reduction help is needed at files pushed to 3200 or higher.

For most scenes, I am simply hand holding. Thanks to an in-camera stabilizer, I can get sharp images at shutter speeds down to 1/10th second.

The camera sports a Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-70mm lens the has a maximum aperture of 1.8 at 24mm and 2.8 at 70mm – plenty fast enough for low light levels. Images are razor sharp and display a good dynamic range.

Rabbit Brush and fIrst snow of the season, below Whitney Portal, eastern Sierra, California, USA.

Rabbit Brush and first snow of the season, below Whitney Portal, eastern Sierra, California
Sony DSC-RX100 IV, 45mm, f/5.6, 1/4th, ISO 400

The new BIONZ X processor has a stacked processor and DRAM chips that allow for lighting fast transfer of image data. An SDXC memory card with a Class 10 or higher speed rating is required for XAVC S recording and UHS Speed Class 3 is required for recording at 100Mbps.

The Sony RX100 IV also offers 4K video and Super slo-mo, though I am not a big video person so I have not yet tested the video capabilities of this camera.

My main goal as I’ve said is to have a camera that I can put in my pocket and have available the minute something cool happens. It is not intended to replace my Sony E-mount Alpha mirrorless cameras; rather, it will supplement. In 8-bit the files are 58MB, more than large enough to satisfy Getty’ stock requirements and make large prints.

Color, tonal, and overall image quality are very impressive. The only drawbacks for me thus far is that it is easy to push in the built-in pop-up EVF making the the viewing of the image look out-of-focus. I like using the EVF, but have started using the LCD more and more because of this flaw. I wish there was a way to lock this into place.

As with other Sony mirrorless cameras, I also wish they would make the back wheel click-lock into place as it is too easy to bump settings. Other than those two small annoyances, I find nothing but positives with the build and UI of the camera.

Other awesome features include:

Top shutter speed of 1/32000th of a second

Built-in ND filter

Fast Intelligent Autofocus – highly accurate at 5fps

EVF upgraded to 2.35 million dots

40x Super Low motion video

16 fps stills

Minimized rolling shutter

This camera did exactly what I hoped it would during this past week of photographing the beautiful eastern Sierra. It will be with me at all times and has proven that it can handle most landscape imagery with professional results!

Let me know if you have any questions – I’d be happy to share my experiences!

PLEASE ENJOY MY GALLERY OF EASTERN SIERRA IMAGES CAPTURED WITH THE SONY RX100 IV COMPACT CAMERA – CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE AND/OR BEGIN SLIDE SHOW!

Would Love to Hear Your Thoughts!

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18 Comments on “Review of Sony DSC-RX100 IV :: The Perfect Compact Landscape Camera?

  1. Hi Don,

    I really like your pictures, especially “Pine Bows and Half Dome” and “Cottonwoods and Lee Vining Canyon.” I have had this page bookmarked for the last year and refer back to it whenever I’m contemplating a new camera purchase. I tell myself, “if my pictures don’t look as good as Don’s, then a new camera won’t help.”

    Thanks for sharing.

    • Thanks Jack for taking the time to read the blog. In all honesty, photography should bring you pleasure. The resulting images are representations of a memory but hopefully the experience will trump the images.

  2. I’ve been enthusiastic amateur for a long time, since high school, and am truly impressed with my RX-100 III that I got a few months ago. I’m also truly impressed with your landscapes from your RX-100 IV. You have an excellent photographic eye.

    I have a technical question. I keep reading that diffraction will degrade sharpness with these cameras at smaller lens openings than f/5.6. I notice you you used f/11 for my favorite image, “Fall color and cottonwoods”. Did that in fact degrade the image sharpness (I can’t tell in the sizes available here)? Did you think you needed the extra depth of field, even if the image sharpness was degraded?

    • You are right about diffraction but we have to be practical with our photography. I shoot this lens regularly at f/11 and f/16 for landscape and have made sales via my stock agency Getty Images. Personally, I am aware of diffraction fro each lens I own, but I will always opt for the aperture needed for a particular scene. If I can’t make the image the way I envision it, then what is the point?

  3. Hi! These are great images! I’m looking into getting the RX100 m5 to take on hikes. My three biggest questions are: Can you stop down with the built in ND filters on these cameras to create the “silky” look to waterfalls? Also, how big of prints could you make with the M4? (I imagine it would be similar with the M5). Last one: How is the dynamic range with the rx100’s? I come from the full-frame world and know it’s going to be much different, but it seems this camera rivals a lot of micro 4/3’s cameras with dynamic range.

    Thanks for your insight!

    • Hi Nic, I do not personally own the RX100 V (I own the IV) so I can’t answer your question on the amount of internal ND you get (you’ll need to Google that one). There are a lot of variables as I teach in my workshops in making water look silky: focal length, speed of the water in the fall, your angle to the fall, etc. As for print size – I would comfortably print up to 34″ x 36″ and possible larger depending on paper surface – run some tests with your lab on a cropped 8″x10″ section of a print blown up at various sizes. Lastly, I can say from personal experience that Sony makes the best sensors on the market and that is a key reason for me using their cameras, dynamic range is really good for such a small sensor – and of course the lenses are built to Zeiss specs and are razor sharp. Hope this helps.

  4. ….impressive pics, thank you! Are those colours native to an in-camera setting on the IV or did you change/adjust in processing? I’m trying to decide between the mk III and IV. Pics from the IV might look a touch more dynamic….maybe. But your compositions are terrific!

  5. Excellent photography and I am looking forward to fully use my mark4!

  6. Hi Don,

    Your photos are beautiful! I have always taken lots of photos during my backpacking trips in the Sierras, but have always just been on auto mode with a point and shoot. I am currently learning about exposure and am making the transition to manual mode to improve my photography.

    I am also looking at upgrading my camera as my current one is very outdated. I am likely going to get the rx100 M3 as I can’t imagine hauling a mirrorless camera or DLSR on backpacking trips.

    I am curious how large of a print you think it would be possible to make with these images.

    All of those shots are amazing; the fact that they are in such familiar areas makes them all the more special!

    Thanks,
    -Alex

  7. Hi Don,

    Thanks so much for sharing! Your photographs are beautiful. I am just getting into photography after having a similar realization this summer while traveling–no matter how good my eye got, I could only capture so much on my iphone. My most nagging concern is with landscapes–my phone actually is fine for up close images.

    That being said, how much more value is added to capturing landscape shots in purchasing the DSC-RX100 IV vs. the original RX100? Thank you so much for your insight!

    • There is quite a bit Jori – a brand new backside-illuminated sensor with an attached DRAM chip. Allows for 16fps, 30% cleaner files and 4K video. It’s an awesome sensor!

  8. Hi Don. What a beautiful gallery of images! All made hand-held? I never saw you use a tripod with that camera. We had a great week, and these photos portray the lovely light as well as your great eye for composition so very well. The Sony technology is really exciting-I loved using my a6000 during the workshop and am now looking at the new a7sII!

    • Hey Julie, yes – hope Gary the “tripod cop” doesn’t write me up 🙂 Thanks for your kind words. It was awesome seeing you again. Sounds like another Sony convert!

  9. Man! These are phenomenal images, Don…what a camera….I was just lamenting on your FB post – seems as though I am always too early or too late…I absolutely love that D-800 but yah the thing is a tank compared to a lot of gear nowadays, especially your “primary” Sony that you use…maybe I can “sneak” this camera into my bag without the boss finding out LOL….This thing has some serious nice depth to it also, does;t it? to wit those aspen trees are a great example….Always nice to see your writing as much as your images, Don…cheers and all my best to all of you:-)

    • As always, I really appreciate your responses Denny. It blows me away how fast this whole technology industry is moving. It is an iPhone on steroids! I now have a camera that can go in my pocket but produce images that rival the best cameras out there!